A Factorization Theorem for Harmonic Maps

Let f be a harmonic map from a Riemann surface to a Riemannian n-manifold. We prove that if there is a holomorphic diffeomorphism h between open subsets of the surface such that f∘ h= f, then f factors through a holomorphic map onto another Riemann surface. If such h is anti-holomorphic, we obtain an analogous statement. For minimal maps, this result is well known and is a consequence of the theory of branched immersions of surfaces due to Gulliver–Osserman–Royden. Our proof relies on various geometric properties of the Hopf differential.